The Grey Bruce Health Unit says it has obtained a supply of 14,000 rapid Covid tests it will be distributing to community partners.
The Health Unit says the Panbio Point of Care Covid-19 tests manufactured by Abbott provides results in 15 to 20 minutes, and reliable with more than 91 per cent sensitivity.
The test kits come from Ministry of Health and were originally earmarked for Bruce Power. However, a health unit release explains Bruce Power has its own testing program, so these rapid tests were available to be deployed in the community.
“The Grey Bruce Health Unit is always looking to reduce barriers related to testing and to improve COVID-19 case and contact management,” says Grey Bruce’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra in a statement. “These rapid tests will help us to be even more nimble in managing cases and clusters of COVID-19, while providing enhanced accessible options for testing to the residents of Grey and Bruce counties.”
The Health Unit says the rapid test will go to community partners and help alleviate current testing wait times for case and contact management investigations.
Among the places they will be distributed are long-term care homes, retirement homes, congregate settings, school, childcare centres, first responders’ workplaces and other settings.
Public Health says the rapid test results can inform early decision making in relation to case management, outbreak management and other potential interventions.
“The ability to make quick decisions in these areas is an extremely valuable tool to help minimize transmission of COVID-19 in the facilities where they will be shared,” a statement from the health unit explains.